Gyroscope



Dec. 5, 1939. H. BRANDT 2,182,534

GYROSCOPE Filed Dec. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR.

Dec. 5, 1939. H. BRANDT 2,182,534

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

- Patented Dec. 5, 1939 PATENT ,OFFICE GYRoScoPE Hermann Brandt, Berlin,Germany, assignor to Siemens Apparate und Maschinen Gesellschaft mitbeschrankter Haftung, Berlin, Germany, a corporation of GermanyApplication December 9, 1931, serial No. ivaozs In Germany December 10,1936 10 Claims.

This invention relates to gyroscopes and more particularly todirectional gyroscopes adapted for axes adjustment.

When sudden changes in course or attitude are made in a vehicle, such asan aircraft provided with a directional gyroscope, it is oftennecessary, in order to prevent tumbling of the gyroscope, to hold theaxes thereof in a xed position. It also is often necessary to preventthe axes from tumbling during the process of readjustment of thedirection indicator. 'I'he readjustment in azimuth of the directionindicator may be accomplished by a manually rotatable knob which, bysuitable gear orclutch 16 means, is connected to the Cardan ringmounting of the apparatus. This adjustment in azimuth must be made whenthe plane of rotation of the gyroscope is perpendicular and, therefore,when the axis of rotation is horizontal. If it is necessary to level theaxis of rotation, a precessing moment will be produced which will tendto move the Cardan ring inv azimuth. In order to avoid the e'ect of thisdisturbing moment, the ring must be clamped in a xed position by $5-suitable means before the axis of rotation is thus forced into thehorizontal or levelled. Devices' heretofore proposed for clamping theCardan ring and for levelling the axis have been heavy and expensive inconstruction and large in size. One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide novel means which are light in weight andcompact in size for fixing the position of the axes of a gyroscope.

Another object of the invention is to provide $5 novel means forrestraining movement of the axes of a gyroscope in predetermineddirections. A further object is to provide novel means for preventing adirectional gyroscope from tumbling when sudden changes occur in theattitude `of the vehicle upon which it is mounted.

The above and further objects and advantages will more fully appearhereafter in the detailed description which is to be read in connectionwith 4 the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference charactersrefer to like parts throughout thel (Cl. 'J4-5) of the invention withthe parts in the initial operating position;

Fig. 5 is a view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, with the parts inthe final operating position; 5

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts cut away,showing a. portion of one form of the clamping means; and,

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6. l0

The 'form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, byway of example, is

a device for clamping the Cardan ring mounting and leveling the axis ofrotation of a gyroscope. 'Ihe sequence of the operations must be 15 inthe order named in order to prevent tumbling of the gyroscope. Theclamping and leveling means are constituted by a plunger mechanism whichactuatesa toggle joint which, in turn, transmits the thrust of theplunger upwardly 20 to first lock the Cardan ring and then to level the`axis of rotation.-

In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, a gyroscope is mounted in theconventional manner and is adapted to act, for example, as a directionin- 25 dicator. The gyroscope, rotating upon shaft 8, is mounted in ahousing 9 upon a Cardan ring I0 by means of shafts II, II'. The Cardanring, in turn, is mounted by means of a vertical shaft I2 in suitablebearings I3 upon the frame mem- 30 ber I4.

Novel means are provided for clamping and preventing rotation of theCardan ring I0 and for leveling, if'necessary, the axis of rotation,comprising a locking device and a cam mecha- 35 nism, both of which areactuated by means of a single plunger and toggle joint. The lockingdevice which prevents rotation of the Cardan ring upon its vertical axisis constituted by a l disc portion I5 having an annular groove I 5a, 40said portion being rotatably mounted upon a cylindrical member I 6 whichis concentric with the vertical axis of the gyroscope and mounted uponframe I4. Cylinder I6 is composed of two portions I 6a, I6b of diieringdiameters, the por- 45 tion Ilia having the larger diameter being at thebase of the arrangement adjacent the frame I4. The upper periphery lIIicof cylinder I6a constitutes a seat for disc I5 which, in addition tobeing rotatably mounted upon the upper cylinder I6b, is adapted forlongitudinal displacement thereon. In order to provide an azimuthadjustment and to prevent the'locking device from rotating except whenundergoing adjustment, the disc I5 is rigidly attached to a con- 55bores. Plate 20 is thus adapted for longitudinal displacement incooperation with disc I5 but is not adapted for rotation relative toCardan ring I3. It is pointed out that the locking engagement betweendisc I5 and plate 20 is completed `135 when ngers I3 first enter boresI9 and that considerable longitudinal displacement of said disc ispossible within the limits determined by the length of said fingers andof bolts a'.

As above explained, the proper sequence oi 20 steps in the operation ofthe present device calls for rst clamping or locking ring III and secondfor leveling and retaining in a leveled position the axis of' rotation.The leveling mechanism comprises an arm 2| pivotally mounted upon 26ring III at 2|a and adapted for motion in a vertical plane when anupward thrust of plate 20 is transmitted thereto by means of finger 22attached to said arm. A roller 23 mounted upon arm 2| will engage asuitable cam 24 attached t0 shaft to level, and retain in a leveledlposition, the axis of rotation when said arm has reached the upper limitof its motion as caused by plate 20. Said upper limit is not reacheduntil after the Cardan ring has been locked by the engagement of disc I5and plate 20.

Novel means are provided for longitudinally displacing` disc |5comprising a yoke which engages the groove of disc I5 and whiclrisactuated by a toggle joint. 'I'he toggle joint is constituted by twobars 25 and 25 in pivotal connection at 21. Bar 25 is pivotally securedto framev I3 at 23 and bar 26 is drivably connected toa yoke 29 by a pin33. Yoke 29, in turn, is pivotally secured to arms Ila upon frame I4 bymeans.

of a shaft 3|. For reasons to be hereinafter set forth and in order toaid in the positive retaining of the toggle in the two extremepositions, i. e., the locked and unlocked positions, a turning moment iscontinuously applied to the yoke by means of a spring 32 to urge thesame in the direction of the arrow. A limit stop 29a which may beintegral with yoke 29 is provided for limiting the motion of bar 25 andfor retaining the same in the locked position. It is evident that a`pressure applied to the knee 21 of the toggle joint will be transmittedto the yoke 29 and thence to the locking disc I5 by means of inwardlyextending ngers 2917 see Fig. 7 attached to said'yoke. 'I'he meansprovided for controlling the apparatus and for transmitting saidpressure is constituted by a plunger 33 slidably mounted-upon frame I4and upon a support 3l. Plunger 33 is longitudinally displaceable bymeans of a knob 35 attached to one end thereof and is adapted upon saiddisplacement for engaging'the knee pin 21. This engagement isaccomplished in the form shown by means of a rectangular loop portion 35operably attached to the plunger by means of an annular collar 33a whichpermits rotation of said plunger but compels loop 36 to .followtherewith in longitudinal movement.

In order to avoid the disturbing effects of precessing moments which mayoccur if the axis of rotation and the Cardan ring are released insuccession, means must be provided for enabling substantially asimultaneous release. In the toggle joint arrangement shown in Fig. 1,it is seen that, due to the conformation of the loop portion 36, awithdrawal of plunger 33 will not engage knee pin 21 until the outersection 33a of said loop is in contact with the pin. Upon furtherwithdrawal, the clearance aiIorded by said loop will permit a swiftsnapping action of the toggle, which is resiliently urged by spring 32,and will cause a swift disengagement of the leveling and clamping meanswhich, although not occurring simultaneously, takes place within such ashort period that disturbing effects due to precessing mo'ments, whichexist when a single axis is free, are substantiallyavoided. I

In order to insure a uniform contact between disc I5 and seat |3c and inorder to permit a continuous automatic adjustment of the clearancebetween said disc and cylinder I3, the cylinder may be pivotallymounted, as shown in Fig. 6, upon an upwardly extending portion IIbofi'rame Il by means of'journals 31,.33'. Between portion IIb andcylinder I5 is a' sumcient clearance to permit member I6 to move alongthe axes of said journals and to thereby automatically adjust itself toa free sliding engagement within disc I5. This pivotal connection alsoprevents scoring of the guiding surface |5b by the inner adjacent edgesof disc member I5.

In operation, assume that the apparatus is in the disengaged position.Should it be necessary to clamp the Cardan ring and to level the axis ofrotation in order to make an azimuth adjustment or to execute somesudden change in attitude of the vehicle, the plunger 33 is movedinwardly and the rectangular loop portion 33 attached thereto thrustsagainst the knee pin 21 of the toggle joint. 'Ihe bent knee of saidjoint formed by bars 25 and 26 is straightened by'this thrust and thelongitudinal force applied by plunger 33 is transmitted as an endwisepressure .which thrusts upwardly upon the yoke 29 against thecounteracting turning moment of spring 32. As this motion proceeds, theentire locking arrangement is lifted from seat |3c by yoke fingers 29hwhich engage the annular groove I5a of the locking disc I5, lifting thesame and causing the upwardly extending fingers |3 to lock Cardan ringIII by engaging bores I9 of plate 23, a plurality of said 'boresextending around the circumference of plate 23. Following the locking ofsaid ring in the above manner, the face of disc I5 contacts the lowerface of plate 23 and moves the latterupwardly therewith. Arm 2| ,isfinally caused to move in cooperation with the upward motion of thelocking mechanism by means of downwardly extending nger 22 whichactuates the leveling device by causing roller 23V to engage cam 24. Thecontinued pressure against knee 21 will straighten the linkage and causealignment of bars 25 and 23. Immediately thereafter. the resilientturning moment applied by spring 32 to the yoke 29 will cause the kneearrangement to be sprung rapidly into the i'lnal position against thelimit stop 29a. 'Ihe knee as shown in Fig. 1 now is bent slightly in adirection opposite to that of the initial position. When it is desiredto disengage the locking and leveling mechanism, plunger 33 is moved inthe opposite direction. 'I'he outer portion 33a of loop 35 will engageknee pin 21 and again bring the bars into alignment. Due to theclearance afforded by the open loop, a rapid snapping action of thetoggle is permitted upon further withdrawal of plunger 33 and thelocking and leveling process is substantially simultaneously reversed.

A second embodiment of the toggle joint means is shown in Figs. 2 and 3which illustrate the disengaged and engaged positions, respectively.This form of the device is similar to the iirst with the exception thatthe portion 31 which connects plunger 33 and knee pin 21 instead ofbeing formed as a rectangular loop is arcuate in shape and articularlyconnected, by means of a slotted portion -33 integral therewith, to saidplunger. Arcuate portion 31 is pivotally mounted upon frame I4 by anarm- 31a and pin 28and provides a pathway for knee pin 21, givingsumcient free motion as determined by the' limits thereof, to permit thefree snapping action-of the toggle joint. Slotted member 38 is providedwith a slot 39 which is adapted for engaging a suitable pin 40 uponplunger 33, thus insuring an easily operable articulated connectiontherebetween.

The operation of this embodiment is similar to the rst except for theaction of the arcuate portion 31. Upon thrusting inwardly upon theplunger 33 when in the disengaged position, the pin 40 thereon engagesthe upper portion of slot 38 and causes member 31 to pivot upon pin 28and to force knee pin 21 into the operative position as above explained.As the motion proceeds, pin 40 progressively moves downwardly in slot 39until, at the lower limit thereof, the locked position of the mechanismis reached. A reversal of the process occurs as above set forth.

A third embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 also showing theapparatus in the disengaged and engaged positions, respectively.Actuation of the toggle joint in this form is accomplished by means oftwo parallel disc shaped elements 4I and 42 which may be rigidly mountedupon the extremity of plunger 33 such that, upon longitudinaldisplacement thereof, the disc elements will engage the knee pin 21.This embodiment provides a particularly simple construction and adaptsthe plunger for rotation in addition to longitudinal displacement. It isseen that the parallel disc elements 4I and 42 perform functionsidentical to the vertical portions of loop 36. The operation of thethird embodiment is similar to that of the rst embodiment.

There is thus provided a novel apparatus for controlling the Cardan ringand axis of rotation of a gyroscope. It is so constructed that tumblingor wandering of the gyroscope is prevented, for example, during theprocess of azimuth readjustment. It is positive in operation and ruggedin construction employing a minimum of working parts. The mechanism islight in weight and adapted for installation within a limited space.

Although only three embodiments have been illustrated and described indetail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto.4 For example, for the toggle joint means for liftingthe yoke 29 may be substituted any linkage adapted for raising said yoketo the operative position and for rapidly releasing the same. Also forthe manually operable plunger 33 may be substituted suitable servo-motormeans for producing the force required to actuate the yoke liftingmechanism. There is shown, in the present embodiments, a torsion spring32 which exerts a turning moment upon the yoke 29 and resiliently holdssaid yoke in the extreme positions. However, for this torsion spring, a

suitable draw spring may be substituted. Various changes may also bemade in the design and arrangement of the partsillustrated withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as the same willnow be understood by those skilled in the art. For a definition of thelimits of the invention, reference will be had primarily to the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is: l,

1. In apparatus 'for locking the Cardan ring and leveling the axis ofrotation of a gyroscope, means for locking said ring in a predetermineddirection and for leveling and fixing said axis of rotation, and togglejoint means for actuating said locking and leveling means.

2. In apparatus for locking the Cardan ring and leveling the axis ofrotation of a gyroscope, a locking disc, a locking plate operablyconnected to said ring, means connected to said plate for leveling saidaxis, and toggle joint means for moving said disc and plate intocoupling relationship.

3. In apparatus for locking the Cardan ring and leveling the axis ofrotation of a gyroscope, means for first locking said ring, means forleveling said axis, toggle joint means for actuating 4. In apparatus forlocking the Cardan ring and leveling theaxis of rotation of a gyroscope,means for first locking said ring in a predetermined position and secondfor leveling said axis of rotation, togglejoint means for actuatingsaid' locking and leveling means, and limit stop means for said togglejoint.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a Cardan ring rotatable about averticalaxis, a locking disc, means for mounting said disc and foradapting same for displacement along said vertical axis, guiding surfacemeans for said disc effective during said displacement, means attachedto said ring adapted for engagement with said disc, and means forautomatically adjusting the clearance between said disc and guidingsurface during said displacement.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a gyroscope, a Cardan ringmlounting for said gyroscope rotatable about a vertical axis, meansmounting said gyroscope within said ring for rotation abot a horizontalaxis, a locking discA for said ring mounting, a cylindrical mounting forsaid disc coaxial with said vertical axis, said disc being adapted foraxial displacement on said mounting, plate means concentric with saiddisc attached to said ring mounting, means for locking said plate anddisc, means for leveling said gyroscope, and toggle joint means foractuating said locking disc and leveling means.

7. In a device of the character described, a fixed support, a verticalring mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in said support, a gyrorotor mounted in said ring for oscillation about a horizontal axis, avertically displaceable plate mounted on said ring, a disc spaced fromsaid plate and mounted for movement vertically into contact with saidplate, means resiliently urging said disc away from said plate, andtoggle means connected to said last named means for actuating the sameagainst the force of said spring, whereby said disc and plate are movedinto contact.

8. In a device of the character described, a Cardan ring mounted forrotation about a vertical axis, a gyro rotor mounted in said ring foroscillation about a horizontal axis, vertically movable means forlocking said `ring about said vertical axis, and means for actuatingsaid movable means comprising a toggle, an actuating ele-l a fixed axis,means for actuating said slotted link,-

and lost-motion means connecting said actuating means and said link.A

10. In a device of the character described, a Cardan ring mounted f rrotation about a vertical axis, and means fo locking said ring aboutsaid axis, comprising a vertically vmovable member, means including apivoted link connected to said plate, a pin on said link, a slideablerod, a pair of spaced pistons mounted o'n said, rod, and means formounting said rod in such a manner that said pistons are located onopposite sides oi' said pin so that up'on movement of said vrod ineither direction one of said pistons engagessaid pin to actuate themovable member.

HERMANN BRANDT.

